Norway takes a leading role on sustainable ocean industries globally

The United Nations "Global Compact" is announcing a new Business Action Platform for Oceans. Norway will take a leading role.

"The ocean economy is particularly important for Norway. Our ocean space is six times bigger than our land areas. Industries such as oil, fisheries and the maritime industry accounts for 214 000 jobs nationally, and we believe the ocean economies will create 40 million jobs globally by the year 2030," said the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Torbjørn Røe Isaksen.

"This new Action Platform for business is designed to leverage ocean sustainability to address major challenges across the UN Sustainable Development Goals. From acidification, marine litter and overfishing, the health of the world’s oceans is fragile and under pressure. We know that the global business community can play a significant role in ensuring this crucial resource is sustainably managed. This ambitious Action Platform aims to mobilize the private sector to innovate, make investments and form partnerships to deliver the Global Goals through sustainable ocean action," said CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, Lise Kingo.

Norway will be the first government sponsor of the new ocean platform, but the private sector will be the biggest financial contributor.

Earlier this month the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, launched the plans for a High-level Panel on building a sustainable ocean economy. Read more here.